Average Vacation?

NorthernConch · Post by **NorthernConch** » March 27, 2006 4:55 pm

ToplessRideFL wrote:Disney is advertising that a family of 4 can vacation at the Mouse in Orlando for $1500 per week. However I am guessing that does not include air and a rental car.

they do show in the fine print that the number of these packages are limited availability. Great deal if you can get in on it.

Cubbie Bear · Post by **Cubbie Bear** » March 27, 2006 5:48 pm

What is this term, vacation?????

Our last one was when my wife was 6 months pregnant with

OUR OLDEST

12 1/2 years ago

Sidew13 · Post by **Sidew13** » March 27, 2006 5:51 pm

I highly recommend www.vrbo.com
you rent directly from the owner of the rental

MacPhin · Post by **MacPhin** » March 27, 2006 6:32 pm

i have to say that we used to spend more than any of our friends. we don't have any keets but we do have a good size mortgage..ugh needless to say our yearly caribbean vaca's have come to an end. all of our friends don't want to spend the $$ to split a place in the islands ( with keets)or they can't live w/o the keets for a week. whatever.

we are looking for friends to split the cost of a villa rental. it is SOOO much cheaper.

it USED to be that we would rent a 2bdrm villa with pool on st. Barth's for 2700 in may. this is in pointe milou which i've been informed is the "beverly hills" of st. barth's. there is now an added suite with plunge pool, making this a 3 bdrm with 2 pools. steps down to the beach have been made also. the increase for these additions ( in the off season) is about $1500/week for 1 bedroom only!! i love this place and have been going for years but this is out of the question. we are now on the search for a new rental.

we also have rented other villas in turks and cacios, st. john and bare boated in the bvi's and west indies. these all ranged around 2500/wk. did a second honeymoon for 3 weeks, st. barth's anguilla ( cap juluca) and st. martin ( la samana). that was $$$. stayed in the south of france for 2 weeks in the height of the season. that was a gorgous place. i don't even want to think how much that cost. of course that was when the franc was about 7.2 to the dollar. have been other places in the islands. would have to say that if you're going during "in season" you're going to dish out the bucks. we try to go in the shoulder season. nice a quiet then and cheaper.

in 2 weeks we are renting a 3 bdrm townhouse in hilton head with my best friend and his family for 8 nights for $2200 total in sea pines. staying for another week with in-laws in florida the following week. we do this a couple of times a year for 2 weeks each. sure saves on the $$ until the boat gas enters the picture. yikes!!

will also be renting a house on cape cod for 1 week with my brother -in-law and his family in eastham. 1 block from coast guard beach. 3 bedrooms 2 bath's and outdoor hot shower ( a must have!!) for $18oo total.

i do miss those caribbean vacations. make note to self.. find villa for next year.

doxadive · Post by **doxadive** » March 28, 2006 10:46 am

thanks for the link to vrbo, but the prices look the same as from the realty company i go with and vrbo doesnt have the sasme amneities, like linens and service for items, plus several of them are listed through an agency on the site, but thanks for the link. i wonder if it helps for out of country rentals

Soraya · Post by **Soraya** » March 28, 2006 10:55 am

MacPhin wrote: all of our friends don't want to spend the $$ to split a place in the islands ( with keets)or they can't live w/o the keets for a week. whatever.

We have the same problem. We just can't seem to find anyone, without or without 'keets that wants to split a house. I used to think my friends just didn't want to travel with us....but then I noticed they don't really travel anywhere unless it is to visit family (and family normally doesn't live anywhere all that great.)

As I told one of my daughter's friends...."Yes, I probably need some bedroom furniture...but I'd rather spend the money on a trip." It's all about choices.

buffettbride · Post by **buffettbride** » March 28, 2006 10:58 am

Soraya wrote:
MacPhin wrote: all of our friends don't want to spend the $$ to split a place in the islands ( with keets)or they can't live w/o the keets for a week. whatever.
We have the same problem. We just can't seem to find anyone, without or without 'keets that wants to split a house. I used to think my friends just didn't want to travel with us....but then I noticed they don't really travel anywhere unless it is to visit family (and family normally doesn't live anywhere all that great.)

As I told one of my daughter's friends...."Yes, I probably need some bedroom furniture...but I'd rather spend the money on a trip." It's all about choices.

Just to add some perspective, though, especially living in the middle of the country, just airfare to one of the islands is around $1k per person. With keets that's $3k, $4k or more. JUST to get to the island, before splitting the cost of the villa, food, and other entertainment.

I have no problem leaving the kiddos behind, though.

Soraya · Post by **Soraya** » March 28, 2006 11:03 am

buffettbride wrote:Just to add some perspective, though, especially living in the middle of the country, just airfare to one of the islands is around $1k per person. With keets that's $3k, $4k or more. JUST to get to the island, before splitting the cost of the villa, food, and other entertainment.

I have no problem leaving the kiddos behind, though.

It does add up fast, that is for sure. I know that because we have an only, we can do more then a larger family. (Which is a contributing factor in our choice of family size!)

But heck, It's hard to find folks to split a house at the coast of NC....which is a 2 hours drive for us.

OystersandBeer · Post by **OystersandBeer** » March 28, 2006 11:40 am

I spent $1200, including airfare, for six weeks in Costa Rica. Slept in a tent, hitchhiked, ate rice and beans. I was by myself.

Went with my wife to Europe(Spain, France and Italy) for four weeks. Spent $3000, including airfare. Did some camping, slept in Paris train station, slept on street bench during Fiesta. Ate one good meal a day.

May not be luxury, but I did it. And those trips were before I turned twenty-five.

And no, I do not have a trust fund. This is from saving hard earned pennies. And then spending them.

Did spend $4000 in one week for my wedding/honeymoon in Vegas. That was a more extravagent get-a-way.

buffettbride · Post by **buffettbride** » March 28, 2006 11:49 am

Soraya wrote:
buffettbride wrote:Just to add some perspective, though, especially living in the middle of the country, just airfare to one of the islands is around $1k per person. With keets that's $3k, $4k or more. JUST to get to the island, before splitting the cost of the villa, food, and other entertainment.

I have no problem leaving the kiddos behind, though.
It does add up fast, that is for sure. I know that because we have an only, we can do more then a larger family. (Which is a contributing factor in our choice of family size!)

But heck, It's hard to find folks to split a house at the coast of NC....which is a 2 hours drive for us.

The equivalent for us would be a cabin in the mountains or something, since I live in Colorado. Beach vacations aren't exactly a dime-a-dozen around here!

We haven't done it in a long time, but during ski season a "bunch of us" used to pitch in for a nice condo on the slopes.

Of course, now we all have our own famlilies, kids, etc. which makes it much harder to coordinate.

My FIL has a timeshare in Winter Park, though, and hubby and I and a few of our friends w/ kiddos are heading up there in May for a long weekend to celebrate our 2nd anniversary. It's nothing fancy, but has a pool, hot tubs, game rooms and a full kitchen.

Let's just say Winter Park, CO isn't exactly hoppin' the week before Memorial Day!

We probably won't spend much more that weekend than we would any other week since we can buy groceries and make our own meals (although it takes water freakin' forever to boil at such a high altitude so pasta is practically out of the question). We'll go out for dinner one night and probably drive to Fraser, CO and go horseback riding.

It's also kinda a funny place 'cause that's where we made kiddo #2.

MacPhin · Post by **MacPhin** » March 28, 2006 1:53 pm

Soraya wrote:
MacPhin wrote: all of our friends don't want to spend the $$ to split a place in the islands ( with keets)or they can't live w/o the keets for a week. whatever.
We have the same problem. We just can't seem to find anyone, without or without 'keets that wants to split a house. I used to think my friends just didn't want to travel with us....but then I noticed they don't really travel anywhere unless it is to visit family (and family normally doesn't live anywhere all that great.)

As I told one of my daughter's friends...."Yes, I probably need some bedroom furniture...but I'd rather spend the money on a trip." It's all about choices.

i hear ya. i used to think the same thing but then i noticed that nobdy was doing anything. i just don't understand how anyone can be at home for sooooo long w/o "going somewhere". it doesn't have to fancy. as long as there is a beach near by, a decent mattress and no cockroaches.

MacPhin · Post by **MacPhin** » March 28, 2006 2:00 pm

Just to add some perspective, though, especially living in the middle of the country, just airfare to one of the islands is around $1k per person. With keets that's $3k, $4k or more. JUST to get to the island, before splitting the cost of the villa, food, and other entertainment.

I have no problem leaving the kiddos behind, though. :lol

many of our friends have frequent flyer miles they can use. it's takes more up front planning but it's worth the effort. that's how we always went if it wasn't driving distance. you save the $$ on the airfare. otherwise i can see how a family couldn't afford to go away. how do these familys that take such great vaca's every year afford it? yikes.

buffettbride · Post by **buffettbride** » March 28, 2006 2:03 pm

MacPhin wrote:
many of our friends have frequent flyer miles they can use. it's takes more up front planning but it's worth the effort. that's how we always went if it wasn't driving distance. you save the $$ on the airfare. otherwise i can see how a family couldn't afford to go away. how do these familys that take such great vaca's every year afford it? yikes.

We've become quite good at accumulating them. We're taking a long weekend in Chicago in August and we'll accrue enough for 1 free ticket to be used in the future.

Mon · Post by **Mon** » March 28, 2006 3:27 pm

My sister gave my husband and I marriott points for our bdays. The only trouble is trying to get somewhere with decent airfare.

I'd love to go to the Marriott on St. Kitts.

Minty · Post by **Minty** » March 28, 2006 4:33 pm

Before moving to St. Thomas, we visited for 10 days. Found a condo privately owned which saved us so much money! It was 2 stories, 2 bathrooms and had a kitchen. We shared costs with our best friends, which made it even more affordable. There are ways to save, you just have to do some homework before.

The Lost Manatee · Post by **The Lost Manatee** » March 28, 2006 4:35 pm

Our last vacation cost us a bit over $500.00. We did a week of camping outside of Crested Butte Colorado. We had a great time and will probably do something similar in 2007.

This year's vacation will be a bit pricer as we are going to visit Ireland. Airfare was cheap, done through my work, just over $200.00 per person. The car rental will cost more because of the extra insurance, probably close to $500.00 for the week. We've rented a holiday house near Dingle that will run us $800.00 for the week. Spending cash is the big one, I figure that will run at least $1000.00 for the week.

So it all depends what you want to do as to how much it will cost you.

Afternoon Golfer · Post by **Afternoon Golfer** » March 28, 2006 4:57 pm

i do miss those caribbean vacations. make note to self.. find villa for next year.

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Here are some very nice villas on Provo. http://www.oceanpointvillas.com/ They have some 2 bedrooms that are very reasonable with or without another couple and the offseason/shoulder rates are even less.